Principal Scientist, Pharmacokinetics

Merck; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 172,000 - 272,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global health care company is seeking a Principal Scientist in San Francisco to drive biologics drug discovery. The role involves leading project teams, executing studies, and collaborating across functions to influence drug design and strategy. Candidates should possess a Ph.D. or Master's in relevant fields with extensive industry experience. The position offers a hybrid work model and a competitive salary range.

Benefits

Bonus eligibility

Health care benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick days

Qualifications

• Master's with 12 years or Ph.D. with 8 years in relevant fields.
• Experience leading DMPK efforts in biologics or small molecule discovery.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute in vitro and in vivo studies for therapeutic proteins.
• Author regulatory documents from FIH through registrational filing.
• Provide strategic DMPK guidance for drug discovery.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Problem Solving

Communication

Detail-Oriented

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmacokinetics

Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tools

LC-MS

Job description

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified its legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

We are inspired by the belief that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to scientific excellence can create medicines that save and improve lives. Every employee is building on our proud legacy of scientific breakthrough. Our ability to impact the lives of patients worldwide depends on the integrity, creativity, humility, and scientific acumen of our team. We are creating a diverse organization that is inspired by invention and founded on a culture of respect and collaboration. At our Research Labs in South San Francisco, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaboration with talented and dedicated colleagues while advancing your career.

The SSF Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics (PDMB) group is seeking an experienced Principal Scientist to contribute to our biologics, drug conjugates, and novel modality discovery and development pipeline. The ideal candidate will represent PDMB in project teams across multiple therapeutic areas, including Oncology, Cardiovascular metabolic disease, and Immunology. The candidate will develop a project team specific adaptable PDMB screening funnel and work closely with ADME, discovery bioanalytics and modeling partners to support lead identification/optimization, enable FIH translation, and compile non-clinical packages to support regulatory filing. The candidate will collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners in project teams to facilitate program progression through science-based decision making. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and possess excellent scientific, interpersonal, and communication skills. Additionally, the candidate will influence DMPK strategy and new capability buildout.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project-team representative and subject matter expert for biologics drug discovery and development, including but not limited to drug conjugates, small molecule, multi-specific biologics, and novel modalities. Contribute to overall team strategy and lead the formation and execution of team-specific PDMB workflow.

• Design and execute in vitro and in vivo mechanistic and translational studies to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and metabolic properties of therapeutic proteins, such as drug conjugates and other modalities, to influence drug design, lead selection, and drive PK/PD translations. Be accountable for providing timely and high-quality PDMB data deliverables to teams.

• Author regulatory documents from FIH through registrational filing.

• Effectively partner across multidisciplinary interfaces and provide strategic DMPK guidance and support to drive new drug discovery and development.

• Contribute to departmental scientific initiatives and strategies; Foster a high-performance culture of innovation, collaboration, engagement, self-accountability, and inclusion.

• Stay abreast of external scientific advancements and contribute to the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and methodologies in DMPK for drug discovery.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Master's (with 12 years) or Ph.D. (with 8 years) in Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biology, or related field with relevant industry experience listed below.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated team-facing experience leading DMPK efforts in biologics, small molecule or conjugate discovery teams

• A proven track record of setting strategies and priorities, and managing resources as an independent project-team representative within a highly dynamic and collaborative environment.

• Proficiency in analyzing, interpreting, and providing context around data describing the DMPK and PKPD properties of therapeutic proteins; ability to extract preclinical PKPD/efficacy relationships and translate PKPD in humans.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate DMPK findings to inform decision-making in drug discovery and development.

• Strong problem-solving and leadership skills, highly motivated and self-driven with a keen interest in staying at the forefront of DMPK science and technology.

• Demonstrated experiences in mentoring and training junior scientists with a mindset of fostering diversity and inclusion within the scientific community.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior experience with multiple therapeutic modalities (e.g. small molecules, peptides, etc) and/or novel modalities.

• Prior experience evaluating the biodistribution of large molecules in preclinical species.

• In-depth understanding and experience in discovery bioanalytical science, including immunoassay, LC/MS.

• Knowledge in novel and translatable in vitro cellular models and/or in vivo models

• In-depth understanding of modeling principles. Hands-on experience with modeling using various modeling software

#EligibleforERP

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

$172,700.00 - $271,900.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

San Francisco Residents Only:We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only:We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

No

Required Skills:

ADME, ADME, Animal Vaccination, Assay Development, Bioanalytical Method Development, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biostatistics, Business Interactions, Clinical Judgment, Communication, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Detail-Oriented, Drug Discovery Process, Drug Metabolism, Global Health, Immunoassays, Immunochemistry, Immunotherapy, Innovation, In Vitro ADME, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Machine Learning, Mentoring Staff, Oncology {+ 4 more}

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

06/30/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID:R348786